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Writer's pictureGunilla Jensen

Smile


I talked to a solo mum with two kids. I asked her if it was hard being a solo mother in Indonesia? She just nodded. When I said I thought she was very brave, she looked me straight in the eyes and that look said more than 1000 words. She would rather have it tough as a solo mother than the alternative. I encouraged her to be brave and strong and she looked at me with a tear in her eye. A few moments later we were laughing again.


It seems to me the people here are always smiling and happy, despite life isn't easy. I'm greeted with a joyful 'Hello' or frequently 'Hello Mister'. I sometimes have a few small and cute fans.



The Indonesians know how to party too. I was fortunate to pass through Jakarta, when one of my friends from Wellington was there celebrating his birthday. I was invited to the birthday party and enjoyed the singing, laughter and joy it was for family and friends to be gathered together.


After Jakarta, I headed to the ferry to Sumatra. The mountain roads on Sumatra are brutal! I thought we had a few steep roads in New Zealand, but I was wrong. I'm getting close to Equator now, so the heat and humidity is intense. I have had a couple of times where I nearly felt like bursting into tears after climbing the steepest hill, only to come around the corner to find one even steeper and longer. My heart sinks a little when I see this sign:



I haven't managed to get a good photo of the steepness of the hills, so here's one of my bike having a rest instead.



Today, I witnessed my first traffic accident on the trip. A small truck had just overtaken me and was back in the correct lane again, when I heard the crash. A scooter travelling in the opposite direction was under the front wheel of the truck. The guy on the scooter got up and was apparently fine. If that had been in New Zealand, it would have been a different outcome, as the truck would have been going 100 km/h instead of 35 km/h.


I have been thinking about the differences in traffic and driving habits. When you first arrive in Southeast Asia from a western country, traffic seems crazy and chaotic. How can anyone survive that?? Now that I'm getting more used to traffic here, I actually feel safer here for one big reason: Everything is going a lot slower. When we travel at speed, things happen a lot faster and have more serious outcomes.



Awful things happen every day around the world. I'm sure we have all been impacted by traffic accidents, relationship breakdown or other traumatic events. Like the Indonesians, we could choose to smile again.


I will finish with John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons' words from Charlie Chaplin's song Smile:


Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through for you


Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile.


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